Catch With Southport Tackle and BaitBy Southport Tackle and Bait With Southport Tackle and BaitBy Southport Tackle and Bait

THE humble maggot has been used as an anglers bait for far longer than pellets or luncheon meat.

Its classed as a natural bait, so were ever you go you will always catch. At this time of year you shouldn’t leave the house without a pint.

When all other baits fail you will always catch on this bait.

There are a couple of different ways you can use maggots, but one of the best is to fish them dead.

All you need to do is get yourself about half a pint of maggots ( I recommend red), put them in an air tight bag, squeeze all the air out and tie a not in the bag.

After a couple of hours put them in the freezer for a further two hours and they’re ready to use.

Put them in groundbait and they wont break the ball up, plus they don’t bury themselves in the silt.

Put two or three on as a hook bait when you fish a method feeder. They are a very versatile bait and by far a favourite of min

Venues

Stoat Hall, Bretherton

Three small lakes to try here, all stuffed with carp and other species. The first lake you come to is my favourite and best fished with a pole.

The margins often produce as well as open water. Also fishing up against the island is very good. Don’t forget those maggots here.

Leisure Lakes, Mere Brow

Good all round water well stocked with some very big carp. A popular water for the bivy carp anglers, but you will also do well here with conventional coarse methods.

Mere Lane, Holmeswood

One of my favourite waters. Well stocked with all species but particularly Carp, Tench and some very big roach.

Was a problem with hordes of gudgeon but a lot of these have now been taken out.

Fish strait lead up against the island or pole at five to eight meters with maggot.

Sea fishing

The sea fishing in the Mersey is better than its been for many years.

There are loads of whiting around, with fish to 38 cm being caught. The codling are showing in increasing numbers with fish averaging 3lb on most marks.

The best places to try at the moment are: Mariners Wharf, Mersey

Fish from the bull nose, behind the flats or over the bridge for a good chance of a decent codling.

The best way to target them is with a pennal rig with a big fresh black lug worm.

If you want to target the whiting then fish a flapper rig with lug worm tipped with mackerel.

Jaguar House, Mersey

Very good area to fish at night. Similar to Mariners and good for cod and whiting

Otterspool, Mersey

A bit snaggy but you’ve got a better than average chance of a decent cod here.

Jericho Lane area is also very good.

Boats

The River Mersey again is the best place to try for a big cod. Most boats coming back with reports of good cod catches. Dennis buck of Southport had a resent trip out and landed a cod of nearly 10lb and a conger eel.

Other areas producing decent cod are Blackpool and Fleetwood.

There are still a few places left on Southport Sea Anglers trip to Hartlepool. It’s open to none members and all ages. It will be leaving Hampton Rd/Virginia St corner at 6am on Sunday, November 21. See Chris or Kev at Southport Tackle and Bait or phone 01704 566491.

I’m looking for pictures of coarse and sea fish to put in this column, so if you fancy seeing yourself in the paper then email your pictures to squidriger@aol.co.uk